The Google Year in Search 2020 Shows that the World Asked “Why” More than Ever

This year is among the years that totally went off a different direction. In a three-minute film released by Google, they showed us that the world has searched the question “why” more than ever. During such trying times filled with uncertainty, Google said that it is when people seek understanding and meaning.

“The most human trait is to want to know why,” said Kofi Lost who narrated the film. There were many questions that have been featured in the film; questions that many of us have asked throughout the year. Why is it called COVID-19? Why so many lives lost? Why can’t I sleep? Why is the NBA postponed? – these and countless more are the questions the world has asked.

On this Google Trends’ Year in Search 2020, it is no surprise that the Coronavirus Disease 2019 or COVID-19 has received the most attention, landing on the top spot for Google’s Searches and News globally. After all, it was at the beginning of this year (January 30, 2020) when the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

The virus might have dominated the searches this year, but it didn’t mean that the world already revolved just around it. Many other things happened, both good and bad, that shaped the year 2020 for all of us.

The Google Trends Year in Search 2020 Global

Searches (Global 2020)

1. Coronavirus
2. Election results
3. Kobe Bryant
4. Zoom
5. IPL
6. India vs New Zealand
7. Coronavirus update
8. Coronavirus symptoms
9. Joe Biden
10. Google Classroom

News (Global 2020)

1. Coronavirus
2. Election results
3. Iran
4. Beirut
5. Hantavirus
6.  Stimulus checks
7. Unemployment
8. Tesla stock
9. Bihar election result
10. Black Lives Matter

People (Global 2020)

1. Joe Biden
2. Kim Jong Un
3. Boris Johnson
4. Kamala Harris
5. Tom Hanks
6. Jacob Blake
7.  Kanye West
8. Ghislaine Maxwell
9. August Alsina
10.  Ryan Newman

Loss (Global 2020)

1. Kobe Bryant
2. Naya Rivera
3. Chadwick Boseman
4. Sushant Singh Rajput
5. George Floyd
6.  三浦春馬
7. Caroline Flack
8. Diego Maradona
9. Sean Connery
10. Eddie Van Halen

Movies (Global 2020)

1. Parasite
2. 1917
3. Black Panther
4. 365 Dni
5. Contagion
6. Tenet
7. Enola Holmes
8. Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey
9. Mulan
10. Jojo Rabbit

TV Shows (Global 2020)

1. Tiger King
2. Big Brother Brasil
3. Money Heist
4. Cobra Kai
5. The Umbrella Academy
6. Emily in Paris
7. Ozark
8. The Queen’s Gambit
9. Outer Banks
10. Locke & Key

Concerts (Global 2020)

1. Together At Home concert
2. Fire Fight Australia concert
3. Garth Brooks drive in concert
4. Travis Scott Fortnite concert
5. BTS online concert
6. iHeartRadio concert
7. Andrea Bocelli concert
8. Elton John concert
9. Meerkat Music Take That concert
10. Metallica drive in concert

Recipes (Global 2020)

1) Dalgona coffee
2) Ekmek
3) Sourdough bread
4) Pizza
5) Lahmacun
6) Beer bread
7) Banana bread
8) Pita bread
9) Brioche
10) Naan

Games (Global 2020)

1) Among Us
2) Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
3) Valorant
4) Genshin Impact
5) The Last of Us 2
6) Ghost of Tsushima
7) FIFA 21
8) Animal Crossing
9) Call of Duty: Warzone
10) ドラクエ ウォーク

Watch the Short “Year in Search” film here:

“So until we get to every answer, we’re still searching…” Here’s the 3-minute video which was released by Google on December 8, 2020 for the Year in Search.

For More News and Updates

Those are some of the topics that made it to the Google Trends’ Year in Search 2020. Are you looking for more news and updates like this one? Feel free to explore our BCG website and our official Facebook page. You may also check out our official BCG YouTube channel to as well catch a variety of video content.

Source: Google Trends, World Health Organization (WHO)